Friday, 6 April 2012

#OccupyFB - what on earth?!

Discussing the content of the press statement (which I still haven't seen!)

What a crazy 24 hours. I don't have time now to write a lengthy account of the five hours occupation of Friern Barnet Library on Thursday 5 April, and of the hasty preparations leading up to it. I think they're best dealt with in small vignettes, which I'll try to get around to writing today in among a considerable pile of domestic tasks! (Lazy cow?)

I did take some nice pictures from inside the occupation. I don't know if other people like my photos, but I do! That's probably what counts. They almost always are viewed best as part of a narrative, which is usually what they are. They are almost always an account of a protest or demonstration of some sort, and pick up on angles that I think are useful or interesting.

I really feel that is the case here, since there is a small story behind almost every picture. I hope I find the time to tell all of these stories, because, apart from anything, they would provide some pointers to other people campaigning to... Save Our Libraries!

P.S. All of this occurring on the day it became clear how much Amazon makes and how little tax it pays on that. Which made a nice counterpoint to our campaigning for the paltry sum required to keep a valuable community amenity open. Remember, we're all in this together!

P.P.S. Finding that the Save Friern Barnet Library campaign has linked to this story, I felt ashamed of my profanity (even with the asterisks) in the title and have changed it!

1 comment:

But Amazon does pay tax! It pays social security for its employees, it pays VAT and it pays Council Tax.

Tell you what, why don't you raise a new tax on turnover. Then you can sit back and watch them close it all down, sack their employees (so you will lose their taxes as well) and watch as they set up in Ireland. Brilliant! That's the sort of thinking that has got the Labout party where it is today!

Barnet the Guinea Pig

"This model has a sound theoretical basis... [sic] However it is unproven at this scale." Future Shape cabinet report, 3 December 2008

"Nobody has said this is going to be easy, it's a work in progress, some of it will never see the light of day." Barnet council leader Mike Freer, 16 November 2009

"I do not believe Soviet bureaucratic initiatives like One Public Sector, Labour’s Total Place (and Barnet’s Future Shape / Easy Council) ideas are... the way forward."Barnet councillor Mark Shooter, 4 September 2010

“There are... many examples of long-term partnerships where the commitment and enthusiasm of the provider has waned over the duration of the contract. Major... organisations will generally resource extensively during the first year, or two, of a new contract but this level of resourcing diminishes as the contract moves to a more stable business as usual position.”One Barnet Procurement Principles, 1 March 2011

"...there can be little confidence that Barnet has the capability, and perhaps more worryingly the culture, necessary to meet the challenge posed by the letting and management of contracts that, under the One Barnet plan, will be far bigger than anything the Council has previously dealt with." 'London Borough of Barnet: Procurement and Contract Management', Association for Public Service Excellence, March 2012

Fellow sufferers

#SackBrian

Click on the pic for a small sample of the reasons Brian Coleman was sacked on 3 May as London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden

People of the year 2010: John Burgess and Maggi Myland

Almost a couple, because they spend so much time together! Two of Barnet council Unison branch's most dedicated servants (along with Helen Davies but she's probably well enough known!). These people have personal lives as well, and give up a lot to take on the lazy might of Barnet council under the Tories. The picture is of Maggi working the crowd at Barnet Christmas fair.